UCL Chemistry students wow Year 8 pupils

25 September 2012

What do you
get if you combine 70 school children, enthusiastic teachers, magnets, bubbles,
giant models of molecules and hard water? Answer: the UCL Chemistry schools
Outreach day!

On Wednesday
19th September 70 Year 8 pupils from Oasis Academy Enfield and
Overton Grange Sutton arrive at the UCL Chemistry department for a
demonstration workshop, a tour of the university and question and answer
session on what it’s like to study science.

The
demonstrations, all prepared by UCL Chemistry students, were developed to be
taken into schools as part of the department’s outreach efforts to enthuse and
excite children with the science around them. From making models of diamond to
working out how soap molecules clean grease, why hard water leaves scum on your
tea and how you can make something levitate with no trickery a great day was
had by all.

“The students
enjoyed the day, and I thought it was beneficial,” said Miss Bray of Overton
Grange who is hoping to benefit from more Outreach involvement for her sixth
form students at next year’s spectroscopy workshops.

Jane Yates
(UCL Chemistry) who coordinated the visit said: “The UCL students really
enjoyed the day. Having the opportunity
to hone your talks on home territory is unusual."

Schools will be invited to
request these workshops in the coming academic year.